Silver is Gut for Switzerland

Keystone

Switzerland's teenage sensation Lara Gut has come second in the super-combi at the alpine ski World Championships in Val d'Isère.

The 17-year-old finished the two-run downhill and slalom in 2 minutes 20.69 seconds, 0.56 seconds behind Austria’s Kathrin Zettel. Bronze in Friday’s race went to Elisabeth Görgl of Austria.

US skier Lindsey Vonn led after the downhill leg – and finished the slalom in the quickest time – but was disqualified for splitting a gate.

Gut, whose silver is her first world championship medal, skied her way into an excellent position for the slalom part of the event, ending the downhill in second position, only 0.14 seconds behind Vonn.

The first 15 skiers started the downhill in poor conditions, with snow limiting visibility. The sun appeared again when the favourites, including Vonn and Gut, were ready for their runs.

Gut performed well in the slalom despite never having taken part in the event on the World Cup circuit.

Slope attack

“I really attacked even though I was aware that it would be difficult and that there were a lot of bumps on the slope,” the 17-year-old said.

Gut’s silver was Switzerland’s second medal at the World Championships in the French resort. Didier Cuche captured gold in the Super-G on Wednesday.

And Gut’s medal was the first by a Swiss woman in the event since Marlies Oester came third six years ago in St Moritz.

Fabienne Suter was the second best Swiss skier on Friday, coming eighth. Rabea Grand finished 14th.

Austrian gold

Zettel stood fifth after the downhill leg and was third-fastest in the slalom to come first overall.

She came fourth in the super-combi at the 2006 Turin Olympics and fifth at the previous World Championships in Åre, Sweden, two years ago. She has won five World Cup races, all in giant slalom.

Defending champion Anja Pärson of Sweden missed a gate in the downhill leg, losing control for an instant after posting the fastest first split time. Pärson also failed to finish the super-G that opened the championships on Tuesday, won by Vonn.

“I think these World Championships are all about bad luck for me,” Pärson said.

swissinfo with agencies

Alpine World Ski Championships

The Alpine World Ski Championships take place every two years. For 15 days, skiers will compete for medals in the same disciplines as in the World Cup.

A contest among nations, the event is divided into men’s and women’s events.

This year the races take place from February 2-15 at the French ski resort of Val d’Isère. It is the first time that France has organised the championships since 1968.

Women’s combi results

1. Kathrin Zettel (Austria) 2:20.13 Min. (Downhill 1:31.97 /slalom 48.16)
2. Lara Gut (Switzerland) 2:20.69 (1:30.63/50.06)
3. Elisabeth Görgl (Austria) 2:21.01 (1:31.03/49.98)
4. Maria Riesch (Germany) 2:21.67 (1:31.92/49.75)
5. Marie Marchand-Arvier (France) 2:22.62 (1:32.15/50.47)
6. Johanna Schnarf (Italy) 2:22.68 (1:34.01/48.67)
7. Anna Fenninger (Austria) 2:22.69 (1:33.22/49.47)
8. Fabienne Suter (Switzerland) 2:22.90 (1:32.45/50.45)
9. Sandrine Aubert (France) 2:22.98 (1:35.90/47.08)
10. Marusa Ferk (Slovenia) 2:23.11 (1:32.41/50.70)